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Countdown Monday: 4,000

Posted: Monday, March 24, 2008 8:59 PM by Countdown
Filed Under:

A Grim Milestone: Which will decide, just how much larger this nightmarish number, will become: 4,000. 4,000 American men and women in uniform, who went to Iraq ,and never came home.  All of them -- in the vernacular of the White House -- seemingly sacrificed not by the Bush Administration for its conflict... but instead somehow having managed to sacrifice...themselves. Our fifth story on the Countdown: A grim milestone is reached... with little accountability... and a galling, repeated, drumbeat today... that they were all volunteers.

To Tell the Tuzla: Breaking news tonight...For the first time, Hillary Clinton herself is calling her claim about landing in Tuzla under sniper fire... a "misstatement"... reversing her past defense of her account, even as she told Will Bunch of the Philadelphia Daily News today this was, quote, "a minor blip." But in our fourth story tonight, that minor blip... a major point in Clinton's narrative about herself as a crisis-ready candidate... her own campaign staff earlier today acknowledging only that it was "possible" she misspoke last week about coming under sniper attack so heavy that a 1996 greeting ceremony at the airport at Tuzla in Bosnia, had to be cancelled. That acknowledgment coming after videotape of the ceremony that wasn't at all cancelled, re-appeared on the internet... and even then, Clinton spokesman Howard Wolfson insisted today that she was still, quote, "on the front lines." Clinton's war stories first started unraveling when they came under fire from her former comrade-in-arms... Sinbad, the comedian, also on that Tuzla trip.

ODDBALL: Pillow fighters and fightin robots.

Surrogates & Delegates: It's hard not wonder whether the relevant electrons passed each other somewhere in the ether today. In our third story tonight, the Battle of the Surrogates... At almost exactly the same time the Clinton campaign today sent out an email seeking donations because two Obama supporters analogized Bill Clinton's rhetoric with that of Joe McCarthy-- the fear-mongering senator of the Red Scare...

Worsties....see below.

WORST PERSON IN THE WORLD:  Warren Vandeveer, Senator McCain, and William Kristol vie for tonight's top honors.

A Dyngus for the Rest of Us: Today is indeed Dyngus Day... In Polish tradition, a celebration marking the end of Lent, as opposed to a search for the definition of the similar word "ding-us." A day when boys playfully douse girls with water... and girls strike the boys with pussy-willows (or in some instances, dirty dishes)...  All as a means of showing affection. But in our number one story on the Countdown, Dingoos has evolved to a largely political event in South Bend, Indiana... And today, former President Clinton was stumping for his wife in that upcoming primary state. Thus, the water-splashing and pussy-willows were kept to a minimum. 

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Comments

I will agree with GWB only to the point that I, too, am grateful for the courageous willing to serve.

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 9:03 PM)

I bet Martha Radich had to pick her jaw up off the floor the past few days in her interviews with our DICKtator-Wanna-Be She should get a Medal of Freedom and a free exorcism, at least!

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 9:04 PM)

How ‘bout a “Special Comment” about the horrible 4000 mark and Cheney’s “So?!” and “GWB carries the biggest burden”?!  IMPEACH CHENEY!!

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 9:04 PM)

Senator McCain and OBL agree on something? McCain’s running for president and the Repubs “let” him say that today?! OK, the DNC need to rerun and rerun that sound bite along with “the hug.”

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 9:05 PM)

Just remember, James Carville and the “Mrs.” wanted leniency for Scooter Libby.

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 9:06 PM)

One of my senators is shooting his mouth off; EEEeeeKKKkkk, and I voted for Senator Bayh a couple of times. Oh well, this won’t be the last time I’ll be a “proud” Hoosier. I’m telling you, though. Senator Bayh wants to be Senator Clinton’s VP BADLY!

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 9:08 PM)

I’m tired of hearing about FAUX News – even if they do have bed bugs! When will the New York Times fire Mr. Kristol?

Krista Swisher, Indianapolis, IN (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 9:08 PM)

Why do you think Sen. Clinton always uses the term misspoke instead of saying well I lied!!! WHY WHY WHY!!! Also could you tell me why the media are not raking Sen. McCain over the coals because of the Ministers statements. I am a catholic and I do take great offense.

Dorothy Rodriguez, Granton, WI (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 10:04 PM)

Mr. Oberman:
I am a retired teacher and your tribute to your former teacher brought me to tears. For all teachers,
I want to thank you for recognizing the impact many teachers have on their students.

Jan, Austin, TX (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 10:38 PM)

#1. Willy has strict orders to keep his 'Dingus' in his pants. #2.World's Worst Menage A Trois. #3. So, the Surrogates will give birth to the Candidate, not the People? #4.The Eighth Voyage of Sinbad was to Tuzla, where Hillary mistook the 'Throat Singing' of Tuzlan Choirs, for the sound of the Automatic Weapon she heard on her Honeymoon. #5. The White House. A Projection Booth for our times.

Steve Turner Cedar Falls Iowa (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 10:42 PM)

This is a good time to remember Donald Rumsfeld's role in our national nightmare and international disgrace.

nuanced (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 10:54 PM)

Thanks,Keith,  for focusing on the losses of families from this stupid war. I know the numbers are still smaller than Vietnam , but I remember how much clearer it was on any news broadcast back then that people were actually dying. That seems to be glossed over elsewhere these days. Luckily , you seem to be rubbing off on the rest of MSNBC in this, and other ways.

Loved the pink tie, too ;-)

Nicole Masika, Brooklyn Center, MN (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 11:23 PM)

If any of us tried to pad our resume as much as Hillary Clinton is, we'd not only not get the job, we'd most likely be blackballed in our industry.

Michael, Bloomington, IN (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 11:42 PM)

I NEVER miss Countdown.  Thank you for leading with the 4,000 Iraq U.S. War Dead.  Someone needs to keep this story front and center.  
I also NEVER miss Frontline on PBS, and tonight Bush's War-Part One aired.  How appropos that it aired to coincide with the unfortunate realization that 4,000 men and woman were sent to their deaths on lies.  Part Two will air tomorrow night.  Maybe you could mention it.  

Joann Palladino, Ocala, Florida (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 11:49 PM)

Press Secretary Perino is a baboon for suggesting that if we get out of Iraq, those soldiers died in vain.  If she, or should I say Bush, thinks that this is true, then should we consider all the soldiers in the Vietnam war died in vain...because we lost that war too.  The fact that these volunteers died for our country should be enough to consider them heroes, not whether we win or not.  Bush lost this war, not the soldiers.  The most heart breaking thing about the war in Iraq is how many of Bush and Cheney's friends are profiting from the lives of our sons.

John, Sherwood, OR (Sent Monday, March 24, 2008 11:49 PM)

4,000 lives lost, and if George W. Bush didn't want these young men and women to die in vain, then why did he invade the wrong stinkin' country in the first place:

http://www.asecondlookatthesaudis.com

Bill in Chicago (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:20 AM)

Kieth,
I can't agree with you more then I did from your broadcast last nite. Why are we not seeing OUR HEROES with their FLAG  drapped caskets??????? But you can bet when former President Bush passes away as with former President  Reagan we will see his Flag drappped casket on Tv for 3/4 days, uninterrupted coverage.....

Ray L. Sommer (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 6:32 AM)

Keith:  When you spoke last evening of 4,000 American men and women in uniform, never coming home, having little accountability, and it being galling - such a grim milestone; one that should wake us up.  You really hit a nerve, hopefully to us all.  I usually cry at the end of your broadcast with your #, but last night I cryed with your fifth story!

Cherrie Gnazzo (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 6:38 AM)

FYI - There were 440,000 of our servicemen killed in WWII. Peace can be very expensive.

Full Moon (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 8:46 AM)

Hillary Clinton didn't just 'mis-speak.'  She, again, is padding her experience.  I'm glad the media is focusing on this.  She's hoping the American Public is too ignorant to know she's not being truthful.  Hopefully she won't get away with it.

Missy (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 10:12 AM)

I took an honors class at OHS in my senior year.  The syllabus was to look at all the wars that America had been involved in from the other side.  What an eye opener.  I have never been the same since, much to the chagrin of my family.

Must be something in the water in West Chester County.

Go Huddle!

judith, Newark, DE (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 10:12 AM)

Keith, could you do a little research and see how many people have died in Philadelphia and Detroit in the last 5 years. It would be interesting to have that perspective, but then what would that tell us.
That 2 US cities run by liberals from states run by liberals is no safer than Iraq?  Interesting!

Larry Charleston, SC (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 10:15 AM)

this isn't a comment. it's just a request for the return of countdown replay at midnight. i work a second shift, and i'm starting to have keith dt's. i need my nightly odball, worst persons in the world, your great insight into the terrible conflict that the liar in chief and vice liar in chief have gotten us into and bushhed!!!

gene t cheetham liverpool, n.y. (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 10:33 AM)

Thanks for a great program.  I heartily agree with Dorothy from WI.  Thanks for not giving Sen. Clinton a "pass" on being "ready" on day one.  Also, for informing us about those ministers who support Sen. McCain, and have zero tolerance for those people who are not "like" them.  It is truly time to be a nation where church and state are separate.  

Linda Taylor, Safety Harbor, Florida (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 11:37 AM)

I hear that Cheney was interviewed, my answer is SO! I wish they had sons and daughters in the military fighting, I wonder is their sentiments would be the same. Bush and Cheney need to get their bags packed and sit down and keep their mouths shut.

Carmen Colorado (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 11:51 AM)

Keith your so great!

Krista Swisher (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 12:17 PM)

Is this now the Krista Swisher blog?

JoAnn Mdsve, WV (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:07 PM)

I thought that it was Obama's speaches that, according to the Hillary campaign , were " just words" ! Hmmmmmmmm!!

Joan Schneider (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:15 PM)

Probably Won't Be Posted But Here Goes Anyway.

1)4000 dead American soldiers in Iraq is 4000 too many.
2) Hillary Clinton flat out lied about her Bosnian trip. Just like she lied about her "experience as First Lady.
3) If the superdelegates hand the nomination to Hillary Clinton. It will tear the deamocratic Party in two while alienating two large constituencies,
African Americans and voters under 30.
4) Keith you should make Sen. McCain and the Fox Noise crew TWPITW each and very day between now and Nov. Well you should make an exception for each and every time Hillary or Bill Clinton lie through their teeth.

Bill, Rochester, NY (Sent Tuesday, March 25, 2008 1:31 PM)



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